“Elizabeth will make trouble,” Raymond sald bluntly. “She’s been telling people that you’re just going through a phase with Reba, that you’lle to your senses eventually.”
A growl built in my chest at the thought of Elizabeth’s delusions. “Then tomorrow’s announcement will rify things permanently. I want the PR <b>team </b>to prepare a statement for immediate release after the meeting. The entire werewolfmunity needs to know that Reba is my chosen Luna and that our child will be my heir.”
“And if the Collins pack retaliates?” Marcus asked carefully,
“Then they will learn why my father named me his sessor.” The cold threat hung in the air between us,
The meeting continued with discussions of increased security patrols around both the manor and Reba’s apartment, surveince on Elizabeth and Ronald Collins, and preparations for the bonding ceremony that would take <b>ce </b>in two months,
As my team filed out with their assignments, I felt Reba approaching before I heard her footsteps in the hallway. The mate band was growing stronger by the hour<b>, </b>allowing me to sense her proximity and <b>her </b>emotional state with increasing rity.
She appeared in the doorway, looking small but determined. Her scent reached me, now mingled with the subtle marker of pregnancy that only a werewolf would detect.
“Are you ready to go to my apartment?” she asked, “Sofia’s expecting me. I promised to tell her about… everything ”
Reba’s POV
“You’re getting married!” Sofia squealed, throwing her arms around me <b>so </b>forcefully <b>shit</b>, Reba!”
ally that I nearly spilled
I nearly spilled my tea<b>. </b>“And <b>in </b>two months! <b>Holy </b>
<b>I </bughed, setting down my mug on the coffee table before returning her hug. After the tense security meeting at Dominic’s estate, Sofia’s unfiltered excitement was exactly what I needed.
“Let me see the ring again,” she demanded, grabbing my left <b>hand </b>and examining the tinum and diamond creation that my finger. “Jesus, it must be worth more <b>than </b>this entire building”
<b>“</b>Sofia!” I protested, but couldn’t help smiling. The ring was extravagant–there was no denying that.
“So in two months, you’ll be–what’s the word again?”
it now adorned
“Luna,” I supplied, sinking
ed, sinking back into the <b>couch </b>cushions. “I’ll
hions. “I’ll officially be the Luna of Silver Shadow n.”
Sofia shook her head in amazement, her short ck curls bouncing, “From small–town girl to werewolf queen. What kind of fairy tale is this?”
“The kind with witches,” I said with a wry smile, “Elizabeth <b>Collins </b>isn’t exactly rolling
the wee mat.”
At the mention of Elizabeth, Sofia’s expression darkened. “That bitch pushed you down the stairs. She should be in jail, not walking around making threats.”
I sighed, absently touching my stomach. “Werewolf justice doesn’t exactly involve the police, But Dominic’s handling it. Tomorrow he’s meeting with the Collins family to formally announce that he’s breaking the betrothal agreement with Elizabeth.”
Sofia whistled low. “That’s going to go over well.
“About as well as a silver bullet at a werewolf convention,” I agreed grimly.
“So what are you going to wear? Sofia asked, abruptly changing the subject in her typical fashion. When I gave her a puzzled look, she rolled her eyes. “For the ceremony, dummy! You need something spectacr. Something that says I’m the boss bitch now, bow down.”
ink that’s quite the message I should be sending as Luna.”
I couldn’t help butugh. “I don’t think that’s quite the
<b>“</b>Yes, it absolutely is.” Sofia <b>leaned </b>forward, her expression suddenly serious. “Look, I know this world better than you do. These people <b>respect </b>strength. The pack is watching you, especially the females. They need to see you as Dominic’s equal, not some human charity case <b>he </b>took pity on.”
Her bluntness stung, but I knew she was right. I’d <b>seen </b>the way some of the pack members looked at me with curiosity at best, disdain <b>at </b>
worst.
“I have no idea how to be strong in their world,” I admitted quietly. “I can’t transform. I don’t have their physical
abilities.”
“But you have something they don’t,” Sofia countered. “You have Dominic’s mark and his child. That gives you power in their eyes. You just need to own it.”
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